Neighbor Describes Home Invasion

Amy Thornbury, who lives next door to the home invaded this morning near Holmes, says that she heard what she thinks was the suspects leaving the scene early this morning and saw Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies arrive in response to the 911 call. Later, she says, her neighbor told her that about an hour before he called for help, two men knocked on his door lightly. When he opened the door, there were two guys in masks. He tried to shut the door but the men sprayed something that made him sneeze. The men knocked him down and tied his feet and hands. They put blankets in the windows and searched the house. Thornbury said the men kicked him repeatedly asking him for the keys to his safe. She said she saw where “they busted his eyebrow open” with one of their kicks.

Thornbury says that her neighbor convinced them that someone was coming soon to pick him up and they left. “They didn’t do a very good job tying his hands,” she said. As soon as they left, he was able to free himself and call 911.

Below is a press release provided by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

At 3:55 this morning, the HCSO received a 911 call from an adult male located in the 500 block of Holmes Flat Road, Redcrest. The male victim reported he was just the victim of a home invasion style robbery at his residence.

When deputies arrived they learned from the victim that two unidentified male suspects entered his residence and pepper sprayed him before tying him up. The suspects claimed to have a firearm, but the victim did not see it. The suspects stole an undisclosed amount of cash from the victim’s wallet and then fled. A short time later, the victim was able to get free and call 911.

The suspects were last seen fleeing northbound on Holmes Flat Road in a white Toyota 4Runner, with a missing front bumper and unknown CA license plates. The suspects were described as both male and short in stature. Both suspect concealed their identities with masks.

The victim was unable to describe the suspects any further, likely due to having been pepper sprayed. The victim required minor first aid for the pepper spray exposure and was otherwise uninjured.

A BOLO has been issued for the suspect vehicle to all local law enforcement and the investigation is on-going. Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-268-2539.